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Before I get too far, I am currently unable to post at the normal site (www.SethSpeaks.net). So this morning, I am only posting here. I’m not sure what’s going on there, and I hope that it is something I can figure out soon.

But I did want to touch base with the readers today. Last week was a tough week. I think I only posted twice on SethSpeaks.net, hosted a podcast and posted once on StarTribune.com’s TwinsCentric blog. I won’t get into too much, but I did go to the ER twice, once on Monday morning, and once on Friday night. As of right now (Sunday evening), everything is fine, and I hope that remains to be the case. (I could write a blog about my ER experiences!! But I don’t want to bore people too much!) But please understand that some of the lack of content was for that reason.

For instance, I got football picks from most of our panelists, and I have them all figured out. I just was not able to post them on Friday or Saturday, and when I tried on Sunday, it wasn’t working. But do know that the panel did send in its picks.

By the way, those of you who pre-ordered your TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook should either have received your copy or will be receiving it very soon. Obviously I’ve had a chance to review it, and it is something that we are really proud of. This is the publication that, a year ago with its first version, really opened up a lot of tremendous opportunities for TwinsCentric. This year’s version is really exciting, and yet really different. Last year, we didn’t know how much the payroll would go up, so we could project and contemplate adding the likes of JJ Hardy, or keeping Carl Pavano, or adding someone like Felipe Lopez… or Orlando Hudson. This year, things are different. Payroll will not go up by 50% again this year. There are a lot of free agents and arbitration-eligibles. There are a lot of question marks. What’s going to happen? Well, hopefully the TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook will help navigate you through this offseason. For those that have not ordered it yet, you can still go to TwinsCentric.com and pick up last year’s Handbook for FREE, and when the World Series is complete, you can order your copy of the 2010-11 TwinsCentric GM Handbook. Of course, we do want to thank you for all of your support.

Speaking of the offseason, the Zack Greinke rumors are already in full gear. Apparently the Twins are among the teams that Greinke would accept a trade to. There is talk that due to his social anxiety disorder, he would prefer to stay in a small market. Travis Aune or TravisTwinsTalk.blogspot.com tells me that he has heard rumors of a potential deal involving Greinke and David DeJesus coming to the Twins in exchange for Kevin Slowey, Delmon Young and Aaron Hicks. Very interesting in theory. But of course, we don’t know what’s really going on in any negotiations, or frankly, if there have been any discussions between the Twins and Royals. Remember, it was only days after the conclusion of last year’s World Series that the Twins and Brewers consummated their Hardy/Gomez trade. Things can start happening quickly, and although I don’t know a percent-likelihood that Greinke is in a Twins uniform in 2011 (and 2012), but it definitely sounds like there is a legitimate chance.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE UPDATE

The Peoria Saguaros have played pretty poorly as a team. Most of the Twins minor leaguers on their roster understand a team playing poorly. But here is a quick update of how the seven Twins players have done in the first two weeks:

Ben Revere – OF – In ten games, Revere is 16-39 (.410/.477/.513) with two doubles and a triple. He has five walks with four strikeouts. He is also 5-5 in stolen base attempts. In one four game stretch, he went 11-18.

Chris Parmelee – 1B – In nine games, he is 9-34 (.265/.359/.412) with three doubles and a triple. He also had a stretch where he went 6-14. He has five walks and nine strikeouts.

Joe Benson – OF – In seven games, he is 4-20 (.200/.238/.350) with three doubles. He has zero walks and six strikeouts.

David Bromberg – RH SP – He has made two starts and thrown six innings. He has given up six runs on 14 hits. He has walked one and struck out five.

Carlos Gutierrez – RH RP – In five relief appearances, he has thrown 3.2 innings. He has given up four runs on four hits. He’s walked two and struck out two.

Tyler Robertson – LH RP – In four relief appearances, he has given up five runs in five innings. He has given up eight hits, walked three and struck out three.

Kyle Waldrop – RH RP – In six innings over four relief appearances, he has given up six runs on seven hits. He has walked two and struck out three.

Each of the four pitchers has ERAs over 9.00 or higher. Obviously that isn’t ideal, but when the most innings any has pitched is six, obviously we can’t make too much of the numbers.

WORLD SERIES THOUGHTS

I am completely in shock that MLB and the FOX executives allowed a situation where the Yankees and Phillies, or at least one of them, isn’t in the World Series. Fortunately for the Rangers’ fans, their team just dominated Game 6, and despite the Yankees tying the game 1-1 on another bad umpire call, the Rangers came up with some huge hits down the stretch.

The Giants continued to get strong pitching in Game 6 even with a bad, short start by Jonathan Sanchez. And they got just enough hitting to beat the Phillies, a team that seemingly forgot how to hit for these six games.

The Phillies seemed to forget how to hit in the NLCS. The Yankees seemed to forget how to hit in the ALCS. The Giants have great pitchers in Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain. The Rangers have a great pitcher in Cliff Lee. But as we continue to learn in playoff series, it’s often the other guys who help propel a team in the playoffs. Guys like Colby Lewis and Cody Ross are not great players. They’re solid big leaguers, but they got this opporunity and they came through. Josh Hamilton was horrible in the ALDS. He was terrific in winning the ALCS MVP. Mark Teixeira went 2-27 in this year’s playoffs before he pulled a hamstring and could not play the last two games.

So, who is going to win the World Series? Who knows? It will be fun to watch, and that’s all that matters. Because as I’ve heard somewhere… the playoffs are unscripted. CJ Wilson could be MVP. Juan Uribe could be MVP. You just don’t know. So, again, hopefully we get to watch some good ball games.

With that, I am going to get some sleep. By the way, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians finale was awesome! And, how about those Brad Childress comments directed at Brett Favre after last night’s penalty-filled loss to the Packers. Things could get interesting at Winter Park!

Have a great week!! Hopefully I’ll be able to keep posting!! And as always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me at sethspeaksnet@hotmail.com.

5 Responses to “SethSpeaks.net Site Update”

Sorry to read about your tough week, Seth… hope things turn around for the better this week.

Hadn’t heard the Greinke rumors, but I’ve coveted him for a while so I’d certainly like to see a reasonable deal worked out that puts him in a Twins uniform.

As for the AFL, say what you want about the limited number of innings the Twins’ pitchers have thrown in the first two weeks, but those results are beyond awful. If those guys represent the next line of young pitchers waiting for their shot with the Twins, those are scary early returns.

It’ll take Aaron Hicks to get Greinke, eh? May as well forget that one. If they wouldn’t give up Hicks (and a guy they later traded for a below-average rent-a-closer and a bag of peanuts) for Cliff Lee, why would they do so for Greinke?

Yes, that’s what it will take for Greinke. They would give up Hicks when they wouldn’t for Lee because Lee would have been a three month rental – one who had already strongly hinted that he would hit the free agent market after and not sign long term. Greinke would be on board for two years and is re-signable.